From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2011 #483 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website: http://jmdl.com JMDL Digest Saturday, November 12 2011 Volume 2011 : Number 483 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- More Meeting Joni [Bill Kelly ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:11:12 -0700 From: Bill Kelly Subject: More Meeting Joni From: T Peckham > I really appreciate hearing all the stories from everyone who has met Ms. > Mitchell in person. Sure, the day before the "The Fiddle and the Drum" by the Alberta Ballet, Randy and I went over to see the Eric Harvie Theatre (http://www.banffcentre.ca/theatre/facilities/eht.aspx) making plans for the next night. After wandering around the Banff Creative Centre campus we found a stairway up to this larger space. The Three Ravens restaurant was full the next night but the Vistas Dining Room, a 350-seat cafeteria atop the Sally Boren Building was open. We reserved a small table. September 5, 2005 rolled around, we got there a bit early, and found ourselves in high-bar seats at a curved granite bar. Across the bar we met the creative director for the Vancouver Olympic Games, who mentioned she was looking to book "The Fiddle and the Drum" ballet into nearby venues during the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. Next I was looking down at my wine glass when Randy said, "She looks like Joni .... ". I looked up and said, "That IS Joni". :-) The good thing about a 350 seat cafeteria is you have to get up and walk around. Many of the round tables were filled with Alberta Ballet dancers and craft people. Jean Grand-Mantre, Joni and several dancers resided at a large round table. During dinner I mentioned to Randy we were NOT leaving the room until after Joni. With a fetched pecan pie in front of me I looked around, curtain time lingering, when Jean and Joni walked by our table .... they were just passing us by, my mind in a whirl when Randy said, "Hi Joni". Whelp, Jean and Joni both turned ..... lots of smiles. "Hi Joni", (my name tag was on the table) "I'm Bill Kelly, this is Randy, we're from Colorado", I said kind of amazed to hear myself chatting. "Oooh!" she said reaching out to hold our hands, looking at both of us. Jean was smiling. Tall pine woods were outside the large windows. It was a brief meet and greet that everyone seemed happy about! Joni and Jean moved on stopping at more tables while strolling their way to the ballet. Small Coda: At the ballet,in the lobby during intermission it was energetic, as LOTS of the folks seem to not only know Joni well, but some had grown up with Joni telling Saskatoon stories. It was kind of riveting to hear things like "Sure, I went to elementary school with Joni" wafting thorough the lobby. We next heard directly from Joni in the theatre when she came on-stage with Jean, the lighting director and a lead dancer after the program ... as you know the Alberta Ballet is completely amazing. During Q & A Joni told this story about how the Alberta and Toronto dancers did both perform in downtown Toronto earlier that summer. In the hallway between shows the dancers from the two very different companies where seeing each other up close for the first time .... Toronto performing an Elizabethan piece with elaborate costumes, makeup and then the Alberta 'The Fiddle And The Drum' program making-due with a 'plains mentality' minimal budget not-too-much to spend on costumes and such approach. Back at the Creative Centre Randy and I walked around upstairs some more after Q & A, then headed to Lake Louise to get ready for a hike the next morning. Mean while believe Joni later that night found a Banff bar and played pool! At least that is what I remember from reading, jaw dropping, Michelle's book "Will You Take Me As I Am". ************************************* Bill Kelly bkellyhome@me.com ************************************* ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2011 #483 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list, send to joni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------